New York Congresswoman and socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC to the tabs), along with a group of other Democrats in Congress, last week released the framework for a 10-year plan to fight climate change.
Just about the last thing a visitor to Ted Birdseye’s ranch would expect to see is “Tube Man.”
It’s fitting that Oregon’s birthday is on Valentine’s Day. It’s the loveliest state we can imagine, and we’re glad to call her ours.
As is true across the state, Eastern Oregon is home to a sizable bloc of nonaffiliated voters.
Art is a refuge in our modern world. At its best it’s a transformative experience to take in the creative endeavor of another person, to clear your own mind and make room for another perspecti…
A tip of the hat to the FFA funding bill, sponsored by Rep. Greg Barreto (R-Cove), that would add $1.4 million to pay for competitions, training and leadership courses and conventions. There’s…
It’s understandable that you might be tired of politics in general right now, and political campaigns specifically.
Over the past few weeks, we have received reports of an outbreak of measles in southwestern Washington, which has now hit more than 50 patients.
As Virginia’s Democratic governor learned to his regret in recent days, a huge majority of Americans remain disgusted by the toxic bigotry of the Ku Klux Klan and all it stands for.
A kick in the pants to Oregon’s failure to keep up with the growing legal marijuana market.
Donald Rumsfeld, a former secretary of defense, famously discussed how unknown factors impacted his decision-making during the run-up to the war in Iraq.
As a society, we have made such progress against once-common illnesses that we forget they are still around and still potentially life-threatening. The measles outbreak in Southeast Washington…
We live in an era of black-and-white, of lines drawn in the sand, of non-negotiables.
As the Oregon Legislature prepared to start work this week, its leaders were saying all the right things about working together, respecting rural Oregon and doing what was best for the state a…
The state of Oregon must begin grappling with the lack of reliable emergency response in its wildest and most remote places.
Atip of the hat to Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, for bringing a package of four wildfire bills to address problems and oversights in his expansive district.
If you believe the headlines, the partial shutdown of the federal government is the result of a dispute between President Trump and congressional Democrats over money to build a wall on the bo…
Plastic bags are lightweight, handy and easily thrown away after use.
The world has changed since U.S. Rep. Greg Walden last held a public town hall in Oregon’s 2nd District. His world in particular.
Questioning the fundamental usefulness of government is the backbone of some American political factions, notably including the now seldom-mentioned Tea Party. Most of these righteous skeptics…
A recent report from the state Department of Environmental Quality about Oregon’s goals for recycling included bad news: The state is likely to fall short of its goals for recycling more than …
A federal judge has dismissed a third lawsuit filed by an environmental group to stop the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from shooting barred owls in an experimental attempt to boost numbers o…
A scathing report about sexual harassment in the Oregon Capitol is both deeply disturbing and deeply flawed.
Oregon state government has been stunningly inefficient when buying computers and other technology.
A tip of the hat to Debbie Pedro who has served Hermiston well as the chamber of commerce director for the past decade. She’s on to her next adventure and we wish her the best of luck.
A new legislative report underscores that PERS could be headed for more trouble.
Welcome to 2019. Make yourself comfortable. We’ve got some things to talk about.
Much happened in Eastern Oregon in 2018, but one thing was lacking — a consensus, No. 1 news event of the year.
Who says soil science can’t be fun?
The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Sp…
The 2018 Farm Bill just passed by both the Senate and House of Representatives takes hemp off the list of controlled substances and legalizes its cultivation as an agricultural commodity.
Some members of the Oregon Legislature and a coalition of environmental groups and small-farm advocates want the state to ban large dairy farms.
The Trump administration’s environmental policies are the ultimate screw-you moment for the youngest Americans, as well as for generations unborn. Following on the Environmental Protection Age…
Dear objectors, interested persons, and Blue Mountains community members:
It’s time to get your flu shot — if you haven’t already. You owe it to yourself, and to protect the people around you.
Unlike much of the U.S., last month’s mid-term election was ho-hum in Oregon — as in, few election snafus.
The U.S. Postal Service is an essential part of American life, and especially here in rural Oregon. Its financial troubles in the last decade, while understandable, are a serious concern and r…
When it comes to speed limits, what difference does 5 miles per hour really make?
A kick in the pants to the delay on the Interstate 82 bridge between Oregon and Washington, which means we have at least another four months (but we’ll bet even longer) of intermittent traffic…
The Pendleton Round-Up has another record-setting year under its belt. More people attended the 2018 edition of the rodeo than any other in its long history, spending $1.3 million on tickets o…
As President Donald Trump mulls his next choice for U.S. attorney general, we hope he chooses someone with a realistic view of legalized marijuana in Oregon and other states.
Living in the country can be heavenly — unless you’ve got problem neighbors. Then it can be pure hell.
You know the drill.
Good deeds don’t happen by accident.
A tip of the hat to firefighters putting out the blazes plaguing California, the deadliest in the U.S. in more than a century.
Type fonts at newspapers come in all sorts of sizes, but in the old hot metal days the largest used to be a giant 72 point.
A few words about government transparency: It makes democracy messy for government officials; it makes democracy inconvenient for those who hold power; it makes democracy work.
As much as we love life in Eastern Oregon, there are certain challenges that come with living as far as we do from the state capital.
Bumper stickers proclaim, “Kate Brown is not my governor.” T-shirts, magnets and decals declare, “Donald Trump is not my president.”
Oregon is on cruise control.
Five months ago, Rick Pullen got Umatilla County’s attention.
The times appear to be changing in Oregon’s 2nd District.
Last month Senate and House conferees working on the 2018 Farm Bill failed to reach an agreement before the old farm bill expired and without Congress voting to extend it.
The initiative process is the citizenry’s tool to directly enact change in state government.
The average Oregonian might not realize it, but Pendleton is on the forefront of autonomous technology.